Israel carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip overnight Tuesday after Palestinian gunners launched a rocket and mortar shells at southern Israel, Palestinian officials and the Israeli military said on Wednesday. Palestinian sources said that 22 Gazans were hurt in the attack.

Gaza's medical officials conveyed about a dozen people were slightly injured by debris from the air strikes.

The air strikes came after the Israeli military reported that Palestinians on Tuesday had blown up a donkey cart filled with dynamite near the Gaza Strip - Israel border and fired several mortar rounds into Israel.

No Israelis were injured.

A group affiliated with al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for firing the rocket and mortar shells at Israel from Gaza.

Hamas sources in the Strip said the Israeli air strikes hit an airport in the southern Gaza Strip.